Battery lamp



Sept. 5, 1933.

G. J. SEISS BATTERY LAMP Filed July 15, 1931 ZSheets-Sheet l G. J. SEISS BATTERY LAMP Sept. 5, 1933.

Filed July 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention has for its object to provide an efficient dry battery lamp, or a flash lamp, which is conveniently constructed so as to provide a small container substantially rectangular in form for containing a large reflector member and the battery cells. The invention also provides conveniently arranged metal strips for holding the dry cells in position and for connecting the cells in series with each other, and the electric bulb of the lamp in the circuit. The invention further provides an electric switch which coacts with the parts of the cell and the strips for opening and closing the circuit through the lamp, and which is so located that it can conveniently be operated through the wall of the container. The inven tion further provides a handle member and. means associated therewith for resiliently securing the handle member in one of a plurality of positions, either to form a bail for carrying the 20 lamp, or for supporting the lamp in different tilted or inclined positions on a supporting sur face, or for holding the lamp to locate the axis of the reflector and the bulb conveniently in a horizontal position, the handle being so con-- nected, with reference to the switch, that when the lamp is held with the hand to project the rays in a direction away from the person, the switch may be readily operated to close or open the circuit and to flash the light. The invention 3 thus provides a combination of features that are so interrelated as to produce an exceedingly efficient and convenient lantern or lamp that may be placed on a fixed support to direct the rays of light in directions that are inclined to the horizontal in any one of a plurality of angles, as well as one that may be conveniently operated and wherein the cells may be readily secured or replaced.

The invention consists of other features and addescription and upon examination of the drawings. The invention may be contained in structure of different forms and the structures may be varied in their details and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a dry battery lamp embodying the invention as an example of the various structures and the details of such structures that contain the invention, and shall describe the selected structure hereinafter, it being understood that variations may be made and that certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features and without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular structure vantages which will appear from the following.

selected is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a front view of the lamp selected as an example of the different em bodiments of my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates the lamp supported in one position by an adjustable means for directing the rays of light in a desired inclined relation to the vertical. .Fig..3 illustrates the lamp supported on a suitable fixed support and located by the adjustable means to incline the projected rays at an angle to the vertical or horizontal other than that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the lamp. Fig. 5 illustrates a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 5-5 indicated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 illustrates the lamp container when open and shows the parts assembled within the container. Fig. 7 illustrates the cell supporting and electric contacting strips. Fig. 8 illustrates the switch of the lamp in closed position.

The parts of the lamp shown in the drawings are supported in a container -1 formed of two sections 2 and 3 that are hingedly connected together by means of the hinge 4 and which are held in close relation one to the other by means of a spring latch 5 formed of a strip of elastic metal that is secured to one of the sections of the container by means of the rivet 6. The latch 5 has, at its outer end 7, a detent portion that is adapted to engage in a recess formed near the limit of the other section of the container. The latch 5 may be extended over one side of the container to form the clip 8 that has a curved end portion 9, the strip being bent so as to elastically press the end portion 9 against the wall or" the container for the purpose of supporting the lamp on a plate or on the edge of a pocket of the user of the lamp. A suitable'rounded projection 10 may be disposed slightly, below the end of the clip to yieldingly resist movement of the clip from engaging relation from the plate or from the pocket of the user of the lighter. If desired, a rivet having a rounded head may be secured to the wall of the container at a point beneath the curved outward end portion 9 of the clip to hold the container in position, either on the person of the user of the lamp or on a suitable support that is sufficiently thin to pass between the clip and the container.

The container encloses the electric elements and light concentrating elements of the lamp. A pair of dry cells and 16, of .the type well known in the art, are located in opposite ends of the container 1. They are mounted in the section 3 and are removably secured in position by suitable clips that also form parts of the electrio circuit for electrically connecting the cells in series and to the bulb. The clips are formed of elastic sheet metal and are disposed at opposite ends of the container to hold the opposite ends of the cells in position and at the same time to make contact with opposite ends of the cells, as well as with the bulb of the'lamp. Thus, the spring clips 20 and 21 are each provided-with a pair of elastic prongs 22 having, preferably, rounded detent portions or projections 23 that may be struck up from the metal forming the end portions of the prongs 22. The prongs 22 of each of the clips 20 and 21 are spaced apart and from the ,end walls of the container so as to elastically press the cells 15 and 16 against the end walls and elastically hold them in position within the section 3 of the container 1 by means of the rounded projections 23, or detents. Thus the cells 15 and 16 may be readily placed in position by forcing them between the ends of the prongs and the end walls of the container against the yielding resistance that is ofiered by the prongs 22. The cells will readily snap into position and be retained in that position by the prongs 22. When the container is closed, the cells will also be held in position by the reflector of the lam A: is well known in connection with the cells of the type referred to, they are provided with metallic contacts, such as the contacts 26 and 27 that are located centrally in one end of each of the cells, and a metallic bottom part 28 that covers the end of each cell opposite to that on which the central contacts are located. The central contacts 26 and 27 form the terminals or poles of the cells that are like in character, while the metallic bottoms 28 form the terminals of the cells that are opposite in character from that of the central contacts 26 and 217. The clips 20 and 21 have also elastic prongs 30, 31 and 32 that make contact with the terminals of the cells. One of the clips, namely the clip 20, also has a prong 34 that makes contact with the insulated portion of the end of one or the other of the cells at a point intermediate the central contact or terminal and the edge of the cell and, preferably, in opposed relation to one or the other of the elastic prongs 'of the other clip, such as in opposed relation to the prong 32 of the clip 21. The location of the prongs 30, 31, 32 and 34 is such that they extend over the ends of the cells 15 and 16 and so as to press the cells between the prongs. The prongs are, preferably, provided with raised portions 35 having rounded surfaces for pressing against the ends of the cells or against one of the central contacts, such as the contacts 26. The cells are thus held between the end walls of the container by the pressure of the prongs 22 and also are held endwise between the prongs 30, 31, 32 and 34. The cells may be readily placed, or removed, from these positions by merely drawing the cells from between the prongs or forcing them into these positions against the yielding pressure and the friction of the prongs against the surfaces of parts of the cells. The prongs are struck up from the body of the clip at a substantially angle for economy of space and to prevent weakening at the points of the bends and also to eliminate flexibility at these points they are provided with ridges 28 that extend from within the body of the bend and along the center line of each of the prongs for a short distance toward the end of the prong. The ridge is formed by depressing these portions U-shaped with a maximum depth and width at the bend and diminishing progressively to the opposite ends of the ridges. This increases the rigidity and greatly extends the utility and life of the prongs in holding the cells in position.

The cells are located on opposite sides of the back of the reflector-38 or the lamp. The reflector is mounted in the section 2 of the container. Its edge is located in the recessed portion 39 of the section 2. The recessed portion 39 is formed centrally in the section and has an open end in which may be located a lens 40. The reflector 38 is formed of sheet metal and may be provided'with'elastic tongues 41 for elastically engaging the wall of the recessed portion 39 and holding the reflector 38 in position. The edge portion of the reflector 38 may be pressed against the lens 40 so as to hold the lens 40 in position against an inturned flange portion 42. The bulb 43 is of the type commonly used in flash lamps and is secured in the center of the reflector 38 in the manner well known in the art. The center of the reflector 38 is located between the cells 15 and 16 and the bulb is placed in position to complete its electric connection with one of the clips 20 or 21.

The bulb 43 has the usual central terminal 45, the other terminal being grounded to the wall of the container through the reflector 38 to a suitable switch which makes contact with one of the central terminals of one of the cells. The terminal-45 of the bulb 43 makes contact with the elastic sheet metal contact 47 that projects from one of the clips 20 or 21. In the form of construction shown, it is formed integral with the clip 20 which is provided with the prongs 34 and 30, the prong 30 makes contact with one of the terminals of one of the cells while the prong 34 makes contact with the insulating material located intermediate the central contact of the cell and the edge of the cell. Where cells are used having metallic parts at both ends, the prong 34 may be provided with an insulating member suitably secured to prevent electrical connection through the prong 34. Thus a button 37 of insulating material may be riveted to the end of the prong 34 by means of the rivet 36. If desired, the prong 34 may be coated with an electric insulating paint or covering to prevent flow of current through the prong and prevent shorting the cell or shunting the cell out of the bulb circuit. The elastic strip 47 is preferably formed integral with the clip 20. It extends centrally from the clip 20 and is raised so as to make contact, elastically, with the terminal 45 of the bulb 43 when the section 2 is placed in position to close the container.

The clips 20 and 21 are connected to the ends of the insulating strip and the clips are secured across the rear end of the shell, the clips being insulatingly supported on the said end of the shell. The strip and the clips are secured in position by means of eyelets 48 that extend through openings 49 in which are located insulating material that may be formed of coating material that pro duces a sleeve-like formation 65. The contact strip 47 extends upward from the clip 20 between the cells and so as to make contact with the bulb terminal when the container is closed, the circuit being completed through a suitable switch.

The switch 50 is secured to one of the side walls of the container and so as to make electrical contact therewith by means of a rivet 51. The switch 50 is an elastic sheet metal strip that extends along the side wall of the container, it being mounted in the section 3 of the container. It has a V-shaped portion 53 and a sliding block honours is secured in the side wall or the container so as to move across the ll-shaped portion and in a slot 50 formed in the wall or the container. The block 54 has a V-shaped recess 55 and an inclined surface 56. When the block 54 is in position so that the V-shapecl portion 53 of the contact so registers with the V-shaped recess 55 of the block 54, the elastic contact 50 will be removed from the central terminals of one of the cells, such as from the terminal 27. When, however, the block 54 is shifted towards the rivet 51, so as to force the ll-shaped portion 53 of the contact 50 out of the ll-shaped portion 55 of the block 54, the end of the contact 50 will make contact with the terminal 27 and thus complete the circuit through the bulb 43. This will also locate the inclined surface 56 against one of the inclined surfaces of the V -shaped portion 53 and the elastic pressure of the contact 50 will be such as to tend to elastically press the block in a direction towards the rivet 51 which, however, is prevented by the bloclr coming in contact with the end or the slot 57 in which the block is located and thus the contact will be held in its closed position. It may be again opened by sliding the blocl: 54 in the opposite direction to again permit entrance of the ll-shaped portion 53 of the spring contact into the ll-shaped recess of the block The contact may also be closed by pressure on the block to force the end of the contact 50 against the terminal 27. Preferably the bloclr 54 is connected to a switch handle 58 that protrudes from the wall or the container and is prei= i. erably formed semi-cylindrical to enable endwise movement or" the bloclr 5 by the. use of the thumb or ringer of the operator of the lamp. The switch handle 58 is connected with the block 54 by a neck portion 59 that is sufiiciently long to enable closing of the contact 50 against the terminal 27 by inward pressure on the switch handle 53. Thus the circuit of the lamp may he closed by pressure and opened when the pressure is released. The pressure being exerted against the elasticity of the spring contact 50, the circuit being opened by the movement of the end of the contact 50; produced by the elasticity oi the contact 50. Preferably, the switch handle 58 is so located that when the container is sup= ported by a suitable handle, the switch may be easily operated with the thumb of the user.

The handle of the lamp is made in the form oi a ball so that is elastically secured in openings 61 formed in the side walls of the container 1. Preferably it is formed of elastic metal and the ends are elastically held in the openings ol. The ball is comparatively short in length, a length convenient for holding the bail in a ver tical plane, to support the lamp so that the electrio bulb 43 will be substantially opposite a cen tral line passing through the handle when close in fist form. This also locates the handle so in position so that the switch handle 58 may be easily operated by the thumb of the hand that holds the handle so. The container is also pro vlded with a plurality of raised projections 62 arranged around the openings til. The projec tions 62 are closely positioned so as to position the handle so in different positions by reason oi the elastic pressure of the ends of the handle into the openings 81. The handle so, is provided with portions to that lie close to the outer sur face of theside walls oi the container and we tend parallel to the said surfaces. The portions 63 are elastically pressed against the side walls of the container and between pairs of raised portions 62 to elastically secure the handle and the container in the desired relation to each other. Thus the handle may be yieldingly secured in such a relation to the container as to locate the center of gravity of the container, when containing the cells, in a vertical plane and in the plane of the outer end 01 the handle when the handle is freely swung or supported to permit free movement oi the container when loaded or charged. Also, the handle may be moved so as to be located in a position inclined to the bottom or rear of the container, as shown in Fig. 2, and elastically held in position. Also, it may be located so as to extend at right angles to the bottom or rear of the container, as shown in Fig. 3, and elastically held in position by the raised portions or detents e2. When in either of these positions, the lamp may be placed upon a support and held so as to produce the desired inclination of the axis of the projecting rays of the lamp in a line inclined at the desired angle to the horizontal, or, when the handle is lo-= cated in a plane at right angles to the surface of the bottom or rear of the lamp, it may be grasped by the hand. The opening Si, in which the ends or the handle protrude are so located that when the handle is thus grasped the axis of the lamp will pass through the cenmr of the fist and at the same time the switch handle to is located in position so that it may be readily operated by the thumb either to flash the light or to permanently open or close the circuit or the lamp.

I claim:

1. in a dry cell lamp, a container :Zor conta n ing a pair of cells, an insulating strip, a pair of clip members connected to the ends of the strip and insulatingly connected to an end wall or the container andlocated between the cells, each or the clip members having a pair of upwardly extending fingers, the ends of the fingers having depressed portions and operating to elastically press the cells against the side walls and the said Mil end wall of the container, each of the clips having a pair or fingers extending in directions that are inclined to each other, the ends of the last named fingers having depressed portions for elastically engaging the ends oi the cells.

2. in a dry cell lamp, a container for contain ing a pair of cells, a reflector located in one end wall oi the lamp, a bulb extending through the reflector and having a terminal located centrally with respect to the cells, an insulating strip,

pair of clip members secured to the ends oi the insulating strip, the insulating; strip and the clip members insulatingly secured to the end wall opposite to the end wall in which the reflector is located, each or the clip members having a pair or upwardly extending fingers, the ends oi? the fingers havlnc depressed portions and oper= atingz to elastically press the cells against the side walls or the container and the last named end wall, each of the clips having a pair of line ers extending in directions that are inclined to each other tor engaging the ends or the cells, one of the clips having an elastic strip lor encasim' the to :':':'1 or the bulb.

GEQRGE acres. 

